The Psychology The Psychology ProfessionProfession

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• Write & speak well• Solve problems• Learn new information quickly• Work well with others on a team

Occupations today require a college Occupations today require a college educated individual who can…educated individual who can…

College graduates use their education in a wide College graduates use their education in a wide variety of fields…variety of fields…

Your future career may relate more to your Your future career may relate more to your

work values, work values, transferable skills, transferable skills,

or personal career interestsor personal career interests

than any specific academic major.than any specific academic major.

Related Skills for Psychology Majors:Related Skills for Psychology Majors:

• Interpersonal Communication (oral & written)Interpersonal Communication (oral & written)• Engage in Ethical PracticeEngage in Ethical Practice• Knowledge of Human Development & BehaviorKnowledge of Human Development & Behavior• Problem SolvingProblem Solving• Able to Observe, Analyze, & Interpret InformationAble to Observe, Analyze, & Interpret Information• Decision MakingDecision Making• Concern for & Sensitivity to OthersConcern for & Sensitivity to Others• Interviewing TechniquesInterviewing Techniques• Critical & Inferential ThinkingCritical & Inferential Thinking• Good ListenerGood Listener• Insight to Deal Effectively with PeopleInsight to Deal Effectively with People• Able to Promote Healthy RelationshipsAble to Promote Healthy Relationships• Ability to Resolve or Mediate ConflictsAbility to Resolve or Mediate Conflicts• Understanding of Group DynamicsUnderstanding of Group Dynamics

• Crisis Intervention Crisis Intervention • Counselor Counselor • Probation OfficerProbation Officer• Activity LeaderActivity Leader• Professional Employment Professional Employment • RecruiterRecruiter• AdvertisingAdvertising• Labor Relations SpecialistLabor Relations Specialist• Art TherapistArt Therapist

• Customer Service Customer Service • Marketing/Sales ManagerMarketing/Sales Manager• Media BuyerMedia Buyer• Public Opinion SurveyorPublic Opinion Surveyor• Public RelationsPublic Relations• College Student AffairsCollege Student Affairs• Labor Relations ManagerLabor Relations Manager• Mental Health CoordinatorMental Health Coordinator

Related Career Titles for Psychology MajorsRelated Career Titles for Psychology Majors

Related Career Titles for Psychology MajorsRelated Career Titles for Psychology Majors

• Recreation SpecialistRecreation Specialist• Community & Social Service WorkerCommunity & Social Service Worker• Employment Agency CounselorEmployment Agency Counselor• Community Relations DirectorCommunity Relations Director• Sales RepresentativeSales Representative• Community Relations Rep Community Relations Rep • Social Service AdministratorSocial Service Administrator• Copywriter Copywriter • Occupational TherapistOccupational Therapist• Operations ManagerOperations Manager• Correctional Caseworker Correctional Caseworker • TeacherTeacher• Health EducatorHealth Educator• Personnel InterviewerPersonnel Interviewer

Psychologists - Significant PointsPsychologists - Significant Points

About 4 out of 10 psychologists are self-employed, compared with less than 1 out of 10 among all

professional workers.

Psychologists Psychologists Significant PointsSignificant Points

• Most specialists, including clinical & counseling Most specialists, including clinical & counseling psychologists, need a doctoral degree. psychologists, need a doctoral degree.

• School psychologists need an educational School psychologists need an educational specialist degree.specialist degree.

• Industrial-organizational psychologists need a Industrial-organizational psychologists need a master’s degree.master’s degree.

Psychologists - Psychologists - Significant PointsSignificant Points

• Competition for admission to graduate Competition for admission to graduate psychology programs is keen. Some programs psychology programs is keen. Some programs

require a Bachelor's degree in Psychology.require a Bachelor's degree in Psychology.

Overall employment of psychologists is Overall employment of psychologists is expected to grow faster than the average expected to grow faster than the average

for all occupations through 2014. for all occupations through 2014.

Psychologists Significant PointsPsychologists Significant Points

Psychologists - Job OutlookPsychologists - Job Outlook

A bachelor’s degree in psychology qualifies A bachelor’s degree in psychology qualifies a person to assist psychologists & other a person to assist psychologists & other professionals in community mental health professionals in community mental health centers, vocational rehabilitation offices, & centers, vocational rehabilitation offices, & correctional programs. correctional programs.

Bachelor’s degree holders may work as Bachelor’s degree holders may work as research or administrative assistants for research or administrative assistants for psychologists. Some work as technicians in psychologists. Some work as technicians in related fields, such as marketing research. related fields, such as marketing research. Many find employment in other areas, such as Many find employment in other areas, such as sales or business management.sales or business management.

Psychologists Job OutlookPsychologists Job Outlook

Opportunities for people holding doctorates Opportunities for people holding doctorates from leading universities in areas with an from leading universities in areas with an applied emphasis, such as clinical, counseling, applied emphasis, such as clinical, counseling, health, & educational psychology, should have health, & educational psychology, should have particularly good prospects. particularly good prospects.

Psychologists with extensive training in Psychologists with extensive training in quantitative research methods & computer quantitative research methods & computer science may have a competitive edge over science may have a competitive edge over applicants without this background.applicants without this background.

Psychologists EarningsPsychologists Earnings

Median annual earnings of wage & salary Median annual earnings of wage & salary clinical, counseling, & school psychologists in clinical, counseling, & school psychologists in

2004 were 2004 were $54,950$54,950. .

The middle 50 percent earned between The middle 50 percent earned between $41,850 & $71,880. $41,850 & $71,880.

The lowest 10 percent earned less than The lowest 10 percent earned less than $32,280, & the highest 10 percent earned more $32,280, & the highest 10 percent earned more than $92,250. than $92,250.

Psychologists – EarningsPsychologists – Earnings

Median annual earnings in the industries employing the largest numbers of Median annual earnings in the industries employing the largest numbers of clinical, counseling, & school psychologists in 2004 were:clinical, counseling, & school psychologists in 2004 were:

• Offices of other health care practitioners: $64,000Offices of other health care practitioners: $64,000

• Elementary & secondary schools: $58,360Elementary & secondary schools: $58,360

• Outpatient care centers: $46,850Outpatient care centers: $46,850

• Individual & family services: $42,640Individual & family services: $42,640

Psychologists - EarningsPsychologists - Earnings

Median annual earnings of wage & salary Median annual earnings of wage & salary industrial-organizational psychologists in 2004 industrial-organizational psychologists in 2004 were $71,400. were $71,400.

The middle 50 percent earned between $56,880 The middle 50 percent earned between $56,880 & $93,210. & $93,210.

The lowest 10 percent earned less than The lowest 10 percent earned less than $45,620, & the highest 10 percent earned more $45,620, & the highest 10 percent earned more than $125,560.than $125,560.

Working ConditionsWorking Conditions

A psychologist’s subfield & place of employment A psychologist’s subfield & place of employment determine his or her working conditions. Clinical, determine his or her working conditions. Clinical, school, & counseling psychologists in private school, & counseling psychologists in private practice have their own offices & set their own practice have their own offices & set their own hours. However, they often offer evening & weekend hours. However, they often offer evening & weekend hours to accommodate their clients. hours to accommodate their clients.

Those employed in hospitals, nursing homes, & Those employed in hospitals, nursing homes, & other health care facilities may work shifts that other health care facilities may work shifts that include evenings and weekends, while those who include evenings and weekends, while those who work in schools & clinics generally work regularwork in schools & clinics generally work regular hours.hours.

Working ConditionsWorking Conditions

Psychologists employed as faculty by Psychologists employed as faculty by colleges & universities divide their time colleges & universities divide their time between teaching & research & also may have between teaching & research & also may have administrative responsibilities; many have part-administrative responsibilities; many have part-time consulting practices. time consulting practices.

Most psychologists in government & industry Most psychologists in government & industry have structured schedules.have structured schedules.

Working ConditionsWorking Conditions

Increasingly, many psychologists are Increasingly, many psychologists are working as part of a team, consulting with working as part of a team, consulting with other psychologists & professionals. Many other psychologists & professionals. Many experience pressures because of deadlines, experience pressures because of deadlines, tight schedules, & overtime. Their routine may tight schedules, & overtime. Their routine may be interrupted frequently. Travel may be be interrupted frequently. Travel may be required in order to attend conferences or required in order to attend conferences or conduct research.conduct research.

The EndThe End The EndThe End

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Citation: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2006-07 Edition, Psychologists, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos056.htm

(visited October 18, 2006).